ll.

Hitching Nat in a grove at the foot, he climbed to the top just in
season to see the sunset and the extended view, which had been so
familiar to him, so that he felt well repaid. On his way back, and as
he was unhitching the horse, he heard voices in the road which ran
near the grove.

"I say, me 'earty, I've about enough o' this dirty country. I'd like
to put me two legs across the back of a fine 'orse, an' I'd ask no
questions of the owner."

"Right ye are, Bill. At the speed we're walkin' we'll git to Occoquan
about midsummer, I'm thinkin'."

"They've 'orses in plenty 'ereabout to go with their muddy roads.
They'd not miss a couple, though they think more of a 'orse than they
do of a nigger, I'm told."

"We'd have two an' ask no questions, but they've both dogs and
niggers, an' one or both always sleeps in the stable."

"I tell ye wot, d'ye mind the lad and girl go riding by when we was
eatin' a bite beside the road, along back?"

"I did an' thought ridin' would do me a sight more good than them."

"They wouldn't 'ave no guns an' would be easy to scare. Suppose if we
meet 'em we give 'em the 'int an' not wait for an answer?"

"We'd have the whole country at our heels."

"An' there wouldn't be a 'orse in the lot could overtake us or me eye
knows not a good one."

Rodney looked to the priming of his pistols, then mounted Nat and
followed slowly after the men.

CHAPTER XIX

RODNEY TO THE RESCUE

It would not be true to say that Rodney Allison was not nervous as he
gripped the handle of the big pistol he drew from its holster, and
cocked it.

Whether the men were armed he did not know. If they failed to meet the
two riders they sought they might conclude one horse would be better
than none and attack him. Indeed, this seemed very probable; besides,
if they should attack the other parties, the boy resolved he would
take a hand in the affair.

A little farther on, the road on which he was riding crossed the
highway leading to Roscome's. The men probably were waiting at the
corner. He decided to ride slowly and await developments.

In event of attack he would spur Nat directly against them and use the
pistol!

The frogs were croaking in the nearby meadow. The sound jarred on his
tense nerves.

"I say, sir, be this the road to Occoquan?"

They had met some one! Rodney stopped his horse and listened. A horse
whinnied, and Nat lifted his head to reply when a touch from the spur
changed